River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-03-17
THE BASILISK.
A STORY OF TODAY.
CHAPTER XVI.
ON TIE TRACK.

Faster and faster the train went on.
leaving my baflled pursuers gestieulat-
Irg in impotent rage and confusion up
on the bridge. which they had regarded
a the certain trap for my life. / had
fallen. fortunately, upon a truck which
vas laden with some comparatively soft
goods-bales Of some sort, l Judged
and the tarpaulin covering which
was stretched over them served
% break in some measure the
fore Of my fall. / was safe freel
The exquisit sense Of relief which this
reflection brought with it was checked
almost instantaneously by the thought
Of the terrible difficulties which inter
posed TO hinder the release of Mary
from the clutches Of Plowitz. All
knew was that he was osfensibly going
70 Pyrmout. But was that likely to be
rus2 Why should / believe what the
B4-.l.-a bid told me? To be sure. she
hal ~ idea then that should so soon
b. At liberty. 1t was possible, there
fore. that. with a taste for the infection
Of tine torture, she had given me the
real destination Of the travellers. enjoy
ing he helplessness which she believed
would render the knowledge Of no
avail 70 me. Yes, il was 1t least highly
probable that they really were bound
for PyTmout, and this thought cheered
me and heartene,I NE again.
now had time To reflect upon my
owl position. However desperate my
previous plight, the sense of safety
brough, with ]; the thought Of the ordi-
nary every day world to which | was
returning. and | remembered that if /
were discovered By the railway authOri-
tie. delay. inquiries, and publicity
woald il All likelihood enSue- These l
wa~ anxious to avoid Nor did / relish
the idea u appearing the centre Of
critical ~owd Of porters and laborers,
In ny present gtIise-in evening-dress
nj without a hat. We were approach
station. The signals gave
r line clear, and we ran
trough 1T a fair pace. 1 could see the
name or the lamps Of the platform. and
this brought back to INV mind the one
oby ious haven Of immediate refuge, if
could escape from the train unobserv-
ed. the safe reference to avoid delay if
wered severed St Bartimeus' Home,
anil ID. Shaw The station ] rec0g-
ui~rd Ii name a. being one from which
visitor used often to come to the Home
on the occasion Of our concerts.
As ] ran my plans over. the engine
gave j : I'd whistle. and almost imme-
diataly the train sIackened speed /
looked ahead. and saw the red lamp on
3 near signal post fixed against Us.
Would the train stop? No. The
color changed, and. with short
whistle rs if Of acknowledgement,
the engine began to pull heavily again.
A station was close ahead. Again we
slarkened. The signal there was
agaiust Us There were numerous lights
of hoHses .ild lamps t. be seen around.
We were we'll in the inhabited region
Of tae north western suburbs. If the
train SIackened sufficiently to enable
Il. To descend with safety | resolved to
attempt III This time there was no re-
leuting I'll the glare Of the red eve that
Na- stopping our progress. Slower and
sl,Ver got tho pace | locked heed
fully about No oGe was ID sight ex-
cept III some distance in front, on the
station platform. | dropped from the
truck, and keeping under cover.
maaegc3 to reach the side Of
the liue un0b>crved. Walking a
little distance. / came TO a prac-
ticabIc gap IN the hedge which lined the
railway. and stood at last upon the
road At some little distance saw the
entrance to the station and, to ms
great relief. discovered several cal
waiting Brushing myself Is well as |
could. to remove some of the most evil
dent traces If nv recent adventures, /
went along the road and gained the
porticO Of the station unobseryed.
Nv shout Of III 9omt" and my ap-
pearanse seemed to cause considerable
astoni-l ment to the two drivers who,
not expecting any fare till the arrival
Of the train which they were awaiting,
were engaged in an engr0sSing CONVEX
sation with twOOrthrec friendsin front of
the brightly lighted station hotel on
tie other side Of the way. NY
condition. however. was no concern of
the drivers. and. though had no doubt
that he took mental note of all the
circumstances In view Of future en-
quirieS BY the police for anyone answer
ing to my description, he simply
gathered up the reius. and drove Oft
towards St Bartimeus's. 1t was get
ting or for eleven o'clock when we
arrived there There was a light in
! remembered, was never very early at
night
rang the bell, and waited a short
fine Probably tie servants had gone
20 bed. Then / heard the sound of
slippered feet coming across the hall.
the door was opened, and l stood face
to face with Shaw himself
"CopIe~tone"'
never saw or imagined more sur
prise in any face than that which was
expressed in Dr. Shaw's. which now
bchcId for the iirst time.
.Good Heavens, what has happened?'
he went on. dragging me in. and
leaving the door open in his astonish-
ment.
"a great deal HIS happened" | be-
gan. "And | want your help at once. "
..NIy dear fellow" he said warmly,
grasping nv hand with one Of his. and
slamn.ing the door with the other.
..vou shall have IL Come into my
study Why. what's the matter with
your eyes? You are not blindr'
..Na. thauS tod. | am not.
If were, / should not be
in position to ask your help in pre-
venting one crime, in exposing and
Furnishing others.
shaw. over whose face all manner OF
expressions had been rapidly fitting.
i, Ii. t1ok me fer a ghost, lunatie
or 4 drunbarj. was apparently quite
convinced III ms tone. IL assumed
only IN expression Of keen interest
and listened to my story with grave
professional sir.
1t Ua~ no easy matter to tell th'
story calmly. couSecuiivelS. The taSb
was rendered the more dill by III,
fact shat NarN's danger. 30 plain and
80 agouI4iug To me. seemed At first Z
make les IMPRESSION upon DIR Shaw